david in sweden

still it's good practice......in case there's a late winter " snap " at Stamford Bridge on the 14th......

Interesting facts - but bad news

AND .......a 25% sell-on clause - just in case he ends up at Real Madrid.......

.......anything more than 1-0 is exciting - isn't it ?

agree with both you an Dellman ..problem is we have a lot of midfield talent and unless you see him replacing Schneiderlin or Davis in the next year or so, it's going to be hard to give him a regular spot. I think JWP's best role is an attacker. Defensive midfielders need more muscle (type Wanyama) and despite lack of height, someone like Harrison Reed....given time. VERY few 20 year olds come into a Prem. side and become permanent straight away, whilst some others take longer to mature. JWP is a great prospect, but it will take a major change of personnel in the side for him to nail down a permanent role at the moment. " Versatile " footballers are often underated by fans who only think of a player in one position, and see others as "second-best" - when asked to play somewhere else. Those fans with long memories...will recall Jimmy Gabriel (who moved from Everton with Scots caps, League and Cup Winners medals to his credit) and played 200+ games for Saints in the late 60's- early 70's. Jimmy could play anywhere, and was used in 5 different positions one season, including CF and "emergency goalie" (before 7 subs era), and never let the team down once. Sometimes your position is obvious and " nailed down " (ala Luke Shaw), but it can take time for a versatile player to find his best role. Wherever that is ?....JWP has " future team captain " written all over him. Meanwhile ..he'll learn and progress.

......if we consider that as some sort of an assist?...... then he's contributing to the team's success.

terrible, but it's even worse when you pay them £40K a week ......with the same results.

........apparantly NOT ! Disappointed .....or surprised ?

....not when you say it that way. Sounds quite easy really. Any other problems you can solve whilst you're at it ?

we must remember that ; anyLeague position above 8th will be our best Prem. season, but if we don't qualify for CL, it can certainly be put down to the effect of the last 6 games. Firstly, we were (periodically) without Long and Alderweireld the whole time, Schneiderlin for 3 games, Wanyama (though back) looks only a shadow of his former self.... and Bertrand (3 game suspension). In those 6 matches....P6. W2.D1 L3. (2 defeats at home ). We know we have +/- 63% possession in games, and the fewest goals against in the whole League...but the worst stat. has to be SHOTS made. Saints ..........99 shots ...Goals scored 2 Opposition... 45 shots ...Goals scored 4 This really has to be a confidence issue, as in the first half of the season we were amongst the highest scorers in the League, (and I can't believe that they have become suddenly become rubbish). It's easy to blame Pellé (who incidentally has hit the wordwork SIX times), but he isn't the sole offender...by along way). With 10 games to go ...let's hope that RK and staff can find some magical formula to help them find the confidence and that goal touch again.

....and of course the only people who make money on that sort of "deal "....are the bookies ... who rake in the suckers' money - on a bet that was never even " a runner ".

In time ..investment in property, stadium, etc, appreciates in value. If we were bankrupted again...(heaven forbid)..then Staplewood complex could be self-sustaining as a training centre for sports, and the SMS site must be worth far more than it cost when built..... 15 years ago. When Marcus Liebherr (R.I.P) bought the club in 2009, what he really bought was not just a bankrupted L1 club with very limited player assets (Surman and Dyer having been sold to pay the staff salaries that summer) ..but the Staplewood site and SMS, that together had a value far in excess of that which he paid. The only big player fees paid out in the beginning were for Lambert and Fonte...(and I think we'd all agree that they were both good investments). Whereas, investment in a player for...(say) £25 million (plus a 4 year contract at 50K /week)... would set the club back around £40 million incl. taxes. - with no forseeableable profit in selling before that contract ran out - (unless his name was Gareth Bale) it shows why...when Football is a business, the Academy is the best investment we've ever made. It's clear that whilst many clubs are counting their pennies, those with owners like Abrahamovic don't think twice about the odd £20 -30 million - every transfer window. If the likes of Liverpool and Man.Utd have to spend £100+ million every season to " top-up " their squads, they may be regarded as " rich clubs " (in theory), but there's relatively small profits against that sort of outlay. If there's no " quick fix ", then they can quickly overspend the FFP limits, and become another " Leeds....or Pompey " in the making. If Katarina stays true to the vision her father had (and it looks that way)...then Forbes' figs, show that there's no way she needs to sell the club ..." for a quick profit."

I recall seeing her say that on TV.. like / dislike her politics, but she knew how to give a good speech.

on the other hand....I'm just waiting for the statement that says; .....he's made a remarkable (even miraculous) recovery, and is in the squad for the next game ..or the one after that.

not just teams, but also I have a like / dislike list of other managers.....(guess which Spuds manager is bottom of my list ..sorry first team coach). I liked Pardew from Day 1, and as many others.. was confused/disappointed/sad when Cortese gave him the push, however in view of what followed ...I'll not complain. Watched the post-match interviews last night and heard him say that ...." .the Saints centre-backs were going through the back of his strikers all the time." well I suppose, there has to be an explanation for every defeat, but ... - if you mean that our defenders went for the ball / headers ..whilst your strikers stood and played statues, then sorry .....that's a pretty lame excuse, Al. Still I'm glad that he's rehabilitated Palace enough to save them from relegation...... but also that we won't have to play the again this season.

scrappy game with a very disjointed first half. Pelle really needs a rest, now that Shane Long is back, it'll do his confidence a lot of good to give him a run of games. Difficult to say who played really well, but have to give MOM to Yoshida ... yet AGAIN ........he looks a totally different player since he's been in for Alderweireld. Perhaps RK should consider Toby as cover for midfield..... as Yoshida is playing too well to be dropped now.

......and the odd thing was.....they nearly always reduced huge problems down to a few sentences of profound wisdom. Makes you sick - doesn't it?

AGREED, but whatever they are doing at the moment doesn't seem to be working so well - does it ? Not suggesting MLT has a full-time job, but he's dealing with professional players who (ought to) know the game. He surely has some knowledge he can pass on. I've worked for 50 years...and learned a great deal about many things, but in retrospect I found that the best piece of advise I every had was: "...if you meet an expert....just shut-up and listen to them." Knowledge can be learned easily - it's much harder to apply it effectively. I never became an "expert" in anything, but it did make life a lot easier.

Can't agree. Just look at the performances of teams like MK Dons, Bradford City, Preston and Sheff.Utd (ouch) in Cup competitions this season. There's no guarantee that B teams would be better than L1/L2 sides all the time, but it gives another dimension to both sides. Another playing experience for Prem. youngsters maybe, but also a few thousand more on the gate for a L2 club who get a Cup draw v. Man Utd or Chelsea's B side.

....and of course, that's assuming we know what the weather will be like at Stamford Bridge on 14th ..... Noted. Yesterday it was +5 in Geneva, and a mild +7 in London.

The real problem is that Prem. clubs U21 teams - only play against other U21 sides, whereas at L1/L2 level you also have up and coming youngsters.... PLUS.....a whole parade of "over 30 aged former stars" playing out their careers. It's a chance to see younger lads playing against seasoned opponents - even if they maybe past their best (by Prem.standards), it's still another level of opposition that Academy-aged lads might not normally see... AND...playing at SMS can still a big step-up for those only used to playing for a handful of fans at Staplewood..whereas a game against L2 opposition with a 4,000 crowd is a smaller step-up, and a somewhat calmer experience than making your debut at White Hart Lane or Anfield. The big problem - is (that) Academy player really good enough to chance in a Prem. game. Example: Seen quite a bit of discussion on here about Ryan Seager. We have Stephens and Turnbull out on loan with Swindon - and getting good reviews, so what harm is there in trying out a B side for a few "one-off games" ? I think it's worth more investigation and a trial at least.

A change of air and different scenery will help. Warm weather holidays -sounds nice - but who knows what the weather will be when they are back and play their next game? more importantly ...will they take Matt Le Tissier along with them?.... so he can teach them how to finish off good moves.....and actually score goals.

well you can all skip the "moron " side IF....one side of the crowd shows the arrow in the first half, and the oposite side do the same task in the second.... ..so that'll be at least two goals.. RIGHT !

That's a rather sweeping statement. Admitedly, it was a big move for them, but we've had good results along the way, and good performances from them both. I read recently showed that Pellé had hit the woodwork 6 times this season (the teams tally of such shots was 14 ). Bad luck or poor shooting?. OK....they were missed opportunities, but at least they weren't crazy shots ending up in Row Z. but GP must be really down with so long between goals. I think the high tempo of the Prem. has caught up with them a bit, but they're surely not alone with that...next season they'll know what to expect. I wouldn't rule out Eridvese players based on the performance of two players, it's also down to mental/physical strength, and GP and DT know more about that now.